Fire apparatus.



PATENTBD MAY 28, 1905.

No. 790,839. y J. R. HOPKINS.

, PIRE APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED MAY 9. 1904.

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PATENTED MAY 23, 1905.

J. R. HOPKINS.

FIRE APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 9. 1904.

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PATENT OEETCE.

FIRE APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 790,839, dated May 23, 1905.

Application led May,9,1904. Serial No. 206,996.

To (L7/Z whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, JAMES R. HOPKINS, of Somerville, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new land useful Improvements in Fire Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to vehicles such as are used by fire departments and which are sometimes termed "combination-wagons. As a rule a wagon of this type embodies in a small way the elements of a hook and ladder, chemical-wagon, and hose-wagon,7 and is especially useful at small fires, when promptness and convenience very often save propertyT which would otherwise be damaged by a deluge from apparatus capable of a greater capacity at the expense of promptness.

The object of the present invention is to equip a combination-wagon in such way that the apparatus may be handled with the greatest facility and promptness.

Further improvements are made by installing the apparatus in such way as to facilitate the replacing of the Same and to preserve it in good order while it is in its place.

Of the drawings forming part of this specification, Figure 1 shows in side elevation a combination wagon embodying the features of my invention. Fig. 2 is a' rear end elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view of one of the ladder-racks, Fig. 4 is a cross-section of one of the removable hosecompartments. Fig. 5 shows in plan view a hose packed in its compartment. Fig. 6 is a side elevation of one of the hose-compartments. Fig. 7 is an end elevation of the open end of a hose-compartment. Fig. 8 is a sectional view showing the method of storing the ladders.

Referring to the drawings, the same reference characters indicate the same parts in all the figures.

The vehicle shown is the same, generally speaking, as those now in use and comprises the usual running-gear 10, wheels 11, drivers seat l2, running-boards 13, chemical-tanks 14, and wire baskets 15 for the reception of miscellaneous apparatus.

Above the running-gear 10 is shown a rack capable of containing a plurality of ladders 16. Said rack is shown as divided in the middle into longitudinal compartments by uprights 17 and these compartments subdivided by supports 18 and 19. The ladders are arranged to extend longitudinally of the wagon and to lie on said supports. The upper compartments are shown as being inclosed by drop-bars 20, hinged at 21 to the outer ends of the supports 19. At the outer .end of each support 18 is Secured a springlatch 22, which is adapted to extend through and hook over a slot 23 in each of the dropbars 20, thus serving to hold the drop-bar in an upright position. By reason of this construction the drop -bar may be released and swung downwardly by lifting the latch 22,

'thus rendering the ladders accessible from the side of the wagon. It can be seen that this construction is far preferable to that by which the ladders are drawn from the rear end of the wagon, especially when the wagon is drawn up against a sidewalk and with other apparatus in the rear.

According to the construction illustrated the upper compartment on each side of the uprights 17 may be said to contain light emergency-ladders and the lower compartments heavy ladders or extension-ladders. By providing springs 24 on the inner faces of the drop-bars the ladders may be securely held, so that they will not rattle when the wagon is in motion and will not become longitudinally displaced in the racks. Said springs not only reduce the noise of rattling, but they preserve the ladders from chang.

Provision is made for the carriage of portable hose-compartments 25 beneath the main part of the running-gear 10. Said compartments are mounted on rollers 26, which are adapted to run in tracks 27, suspended under the body of the wagon and arranged to extend longitudinally thereof. Free access to said hose-compartments is provided at the rear end of the wagon, so that one or both (two being the number illustrated) may be readily withdrawn from that end and, if necessary, carried to any point, still preserving the hose in a compact and convenient condition.

The wear and tear of dragging a hose over the ground is obviated and a very convenient method of restoring the hose to its place is thus made possible. The firemen engaged in removing the ladders and hose from a wagon arranged in this way cannot interfere with each others movements.

Having thus explained the nature of the invention and described a way of constructing and using the same, although without attempting to set forth all of the forms in which it may be made or all of the modes of its use,

I declare that what I claim isl. In a vehicle of the character described, a support for longitudinally-extending ladders, said support inclosing the four sides of said ladders and having movable portions adapted to release said ladders at either side of said vehicle.

2. In a vehicle of the character described, a column of ladder-racks extending longitudinally thereof, and side pieces each adapted to extend the full height of the column and to be swung away therefrom.

3. In-a vehicle of the character described,

the combination with a body, of a ladderrack having supports for supporting a plurality of ladders one above the other, said supports being constructed to permit of the lateral removal of any ofthe ladders independently of the others, and one or more movable members for securing saidladders against lateral removal.

4. In a vehicle of the character described, the combination of a longitudinally-extending ladder-rack provided with removable sides, and longitudinally-extending receptacles, removable from the end thereof.

5. In a vehicle of the character described, comprising racks for the reception of ladders extending longitudinally thereof, side pieces adapted to inclose said ladders in said racks or to be swung away from said racks, and springs interposed between said side pieces and said ladders, so as to press against said ladders when said side pieces inclose them.

6. In a vehicle of the character described, the combination with a body having laddersupports thereon, of movable means for securing ladders in said supports against lateral displacement, and means for preventing said ladders from rising above said movable means.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES R. HOPKINS.

Witnesses:

C. C. STECHER, I/VALTER P. ABELL. 

